Revitalization of Downtown Kingsburg is underway

KINGSBURG, Calif. (KFSN) -- Like other valley cities, the challenge for Kingsburg is getting more people downtown. Shoppers cannot wait for women's retailer Revival 23 to open but this 1912 building on the main drag offers so much more.

City Manager Alex Henderson said, "One of the things that seemed to make the most sense was downtown living. We've got all these great bones here in Kingsburg. It's walkable, it's friendly, it's safe, it's clean."

So this upstairs space is being transformed.

"You can get a sense of how large the spaces are."

Four two-bedroom 1100 square foot lofts with a view are being built and should be done by March. The second-floor deck leads to an outdoor eating space used by Fugazzi's restaurant.

The idea was to create a 'sense of place' where an alley once stood.

Jeff Harpain from Apotek Lofts said, "'You still feel like you can be anywhere in the world because of the vintage elements that we have combined with the modern style."

The project has attracted attention from both young people and older professionals who would love to live along Draper Street.

"The downtown upper floor lofts are just essential to revitalization that's happening in Kingsburg now," said Harpain.

The Apotek Lofts could create momentum for other owners to add living space to downtown properties.

"We've got these great old buildings, we've got our Swedish architecture, our Swedish heritage, so we really wanted to build on that," explained Henderson.

The city even offers several incentives to create loft apartments in Kingsburg.